The finale of the world’s biggest classical music festival aired this evening complete with a special tribute to the late Dolly Parton
Sheridan Smith kicked off the Dolly Parton tribute(Image: BBC)
A tribute to the late Dolly Parton has left BBC viewers saying the same thing.
Last Night of the Proms: The Finale aired on the channel this evening (September 12), showing the culmination of the world’s biggest classical music festival, all beamed live from London’s Royal Albert Hall.
The second half opened with actress Sheridan Smith performing the star’s hit song 9 to 5 dressed in a suitably glittery jumpsuit with bouffant blonde hair in the style of the singer. The medley then moved to the Ward Thomas Duo singing Jolene, before Beverley Knight took to the stage with a powerful rendition of I Will Always Love You.
“Are you expecting me to speak after that?” choir master and TV personality Gareth Malone later said during a chat with the BBC Proms co-hosts, Nick Mohammed and Katie Derham.
He continued: “It was so emotional, it was beautiful, I love Dolly that was a wonderful rendition. The way the choir came up it really got me.”
Many fans at home were equally moved by the tribute, with many completely blown away by Beverly Knight’s performance in particular. “Loving the #DollyParton tribute on #LastNightOfTheProms,” said one fan. Meanwhile another remarked: “Thank goodness for Beverly Knight #lastnightoftheproms.”
“Beverley Knight. Take a bow. Brilliant performance. Fitting tribute to Dolly Parton,” one gushed. “Wow. Tribute to Dolly Parton at #LastNightoftheProms Beverley Knight knocked it out of the park.”
“Wasn’t expecting a tribute to #Dolly at #LastNightoftheProms -wonderful!” said another viewer. “Sheridan Smith can SING, good lord #lastnightoftheproms this is amazing. @DollyParton would love it! Jolene really lends itself to orchestra, doesn’t it?” added one fan.
However, one BBC viewer was less than impressed with Sheridan Smith’s vocals, venting: “Surely they could have found an actual professional singer to kick off the second half, rather than some celeb who gets drafted into west end shows to fill seats.”
Last Night of the Proms: The Finale is available to watch on BBC One and iPlayer.
Former newsreader and Strictly Come Dancing star Katie Derham is hosting the BBC Proms
Katie Derham has opened up on her grief(Image: Getty Images)
BBC host Katie Derham received a marriage proposal on a first date.
The former Strictly Come Dancing star is a former ITV news presenter but in 2010 she announced she was returning to the BBC where she started her career as a researcher.
Since then she’s worked extensively across radio and she was one of the contestants on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 when she was partnered with Anton Du Beke and impressed both the judges and viewers, topping the leaderboard and making it through to the final. She returned for the Christmas special two years later which she won with Brendan Cole.
As she teams up with Celebrity Traitors star Nick Mohammed to present the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms on Saturday, September 12, which will feature a Dolly Parton tribute, we take a look at her life offscreen.
Katie Derham’s heartbreak
Katie, who was born in Kent, is now 56 and she admits that her last birthday was a poignant moment for her because her mother Margaret was the same age when she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s.
Margaret died aged just 61, from complications of pancreatitis. Opening up to HELLO! magazine’s Second Act podcast Katie said: “I’ve stopped being quite so angry (over her death) as I was for many years. She never met my second daughter, and she had such a bright and interesting mind.”
She added: “It seems particularly cruel. She was 61 when she died – that’s nothing is it?” Katie also spoke about how she felt she had to “step up” and be the “mother of the family” after Margaret died.
The mother-of-two continued: “I don’t know how she (Margaret) responded to the menopause, I don’t know what she was like as a young grandma – I don’t know what she was like as an older grandma.”
Marriage proposal
Katie met her husband, John Vincent, now the chief executive and co-founder of fast food chain Leon Restaurants, when he caught her gatecrashing the Cambridge University May Ball – and proposed to her.
“It sounds so bad now, in retrospect. But with a big smile and a big twinkle, he said “Well, you know, give me a snog and I won’t throw you out,” she revealed to HELLO!
“It did make me laugh. And we spent the night dancing around, but I thought (proposing) was a joke, I genuinely never thought I’d see him again. But he told his mum and dad ‘I met this girl at this ball and I’m pretty sure I’m going to marry her.’”
They met up again when John took the plunge and called the BBC switchboard during her shift as a financial news researcher in 1992. They went on to marry seven years later and they are the proud parents of two daughters.
Last Night of the Proms: The Finale is on BBC One on Saturday, September 12 from 9pm
There is a lost EastEnders Christmas special which showed groundbreaking gay character Barry Clark come out to his homophobic dad.
In 1986, bosses on the BBC drama cast the first ever gay couple on the soap with Michael Cashman and Gary Hailes playing Colin Russell and Barry.
The two characters were the first openly gay couple to share a kiss in a British soap. Gary Webster joined EastEnders in 1987 playing Barry’s protective older brother Graham Clark who accepted his sibling was a homosexual man.
Former Minder star Webster has now revealed that an entire Christmas episode was filmed in 1987 around Barry emotionally revealing his sexuality to their father, who hated homosexuals.
Webster insists the unique episode was in the can and due to air on Christmas Eve but when he sat down to watch it, bosses had lost their nerve and left it on the cutting room floor instead airing an episode forcing on Pauline and Arthur Fowler’s broken oven and Sharon Watts coping with Christmas with her parents Angie and Den separated.
None of the scenes were ever shown on the soap.
Webster said: “I was very proud to be a part of that storyline, absolutely. “That was really groundbreaking writing. Not only having Colin and Barry’s relationship out there, accepted or not accepted. It wasn’t for effect it was a reflection of what was happening to people in those relationships.
“It was fantastic writing, the idea that his brother would be fully accepting of it as well, when everyone thought the brother would find it unacceptable. At that time they could have gone further. I remember we shot a whole Christmas episode of the father of Barry and Graham – my character – finding out his son was gay, and he wasn’t accepting of it. It had all been building to that culmination of the father coming into the pub.
“We filmed 15 scenes and it was a whole episode at Christmas. I sat down to watch it at Christmas and they had pulled it and had shot something else. I think they just lost their bottle a little bit at that time.
“No, never broadcast. I don’t what happened to it. All I know is that my parents were sitting down with my aunt and uncle, my current girlfriend at the time was sitting down with her parents on Christmas Eve. I’d told them I’m featured in this episode a lot, this is going to be a big episode. I was sat down on my own, I saw the opening scene and I suddenly realised, ‘Oh my god! This has changed. This is not the episode that we shot.’
“Back in those days if you got an episode on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day it was the pinnacle of your career. Then I thought, ‘I just look like I’m a big liar. Now I’m going to have to take the flak of people going, ‘Right, so you were going to be in a big episode?’ Everyone doubted me for years afterwards.”
Webster – who stars in new independent British horror movie Harbinger – believes the episode was dropped because bosses on EastEnders feared the British public weren’t ready for it.
Despite that history-making episode never making it to television screens, Webster says being a part of the Colin and Barry story is one of the proudest acting jobs of his long career.
He said: “To be a part of that storyline, to work with Gary Hailes and Michael Cashman who played Barry and Colin – I still keep in contact with them both – I look back on that and I am proud of my part of that storyline. It was EastEnders at its very best. “What everyone forgets, people in my industry and in that London scene, we probably lived in a bit of a bubble than what was going on in the rest of the country.
“I felt that maybe people at that time weren’t ready for that yet. But I think people are ready for it at any time. You have to have more faith in the public.”
Webster made a return to EastEnders in 2016 as new character Neville Peacock. The actor still watches the soap and insists it is vital it remains on screens as it is a hotbed of new talent.
He said: “EastEnders is in a battle but I still think the basics and foundations are great, the same with Coronation Street and all the soaps. They are a great breeding ground for great talent whether it’s in front of the camera or behind the camera. People still like that regularity of storyline and characters they now and love. It’s just getting it out there, because there are so many other platforms.
“I did about four episodes of EastEnders as a different character in 2016. There was some hope that I might return. Hope is one thing, reality is another. It doesn’t bother me if something doesn’t quite work out, that’s just the nature of the business we’re in.
“If they called me again I would be thrilled and honoured to be in the show. “I still think there is a lot of value to the soap operas. In this country we do them extremely well. It’s a hot bed for new talent, discovery of new talent across the board that we would lose at our peril. If we allow that to just slip away I think the industry would suffer across the board. I’m a great advocate of retaining all those returning dramas.”
The BBC declined to comment but a soap source said EastEnders had “a rich history of championing LGBTQA+ storylines and characters over its 41-year tenure”.
Monty Don recently quit Gardener’s World after more than two decades but has now landed something new, teaming up with one of the most famous footwear brands in the country
22:53, 10 Sep 2026Updated 22:53, 10 Sep 2026
Mont Don has landed a new job after quitting Gardeners’ World (Image: ACN / New Balance)
Monty Don has landed a new job just days after quitting Gardener’s World. The TV star,71, is best known for having fronted the BBC agricultural programme, and on air for more than two decades.
“Created as a dedicated space for rest, reflection and connection, the garden brought New Balance’s manufacturing heritage with Burnham’s distinctive creative language and longstanding relationship with the natural world.”
Just days ago, the presenter said the time had come for change and he was ready for his next adventure, but promised his fans that the move does not signal the end of his TV career.
Monty said: “I have decided that the current series of Gardeners’ World is to be my last. I began hosting the programme 23 years ago, first at Berryfields and for the past 16 years here in my own garden, Longmeadow.
“Throughout that time – and around seven hundred programmes – I have had the privilege of sharing my own abiding passion for gardens and gardening with an equally passionate, and often equally knowledgeable audience.
“That connection with millions, not just in Britain but across the world, who share a love of gardens, plants and the natural world is something I have always treasured and which I increasingly believe to be at the heart of a life well lived.
“I have also always relished the craft of programme making and to do so, week in week out, as part of a superlative BBC team has been a deeply rewarding experience. But now is the right time for a change.
“I look forward to continuing to work with and for the BBC on other projects, as well as following new avenues. There are more books to write, more programmes to make. And of course, I will still be gardening, dog by side, here at Longmeadow.”
Born in Germany and raised in England, Monty made his television debut on This Morning in 1989 after his home garden was featured in several publications. After repeat appearances, he got additional TV work on BBC shows Holiday and Tomorrow’s World.
He also began putting his ideas and tips into words, and has published over 25 books since 1990. In 2002, he was recommended by Alan Titchmarsh to replace him as the lead presenter of Gardeners’ World. Monty then became the first self-taught horticulturist presenter in the show’s history.
Shaun Wright-Phillips has revealed that he has been speaking to Strictly winner Karen Carney for advice ahead of his own debut on the BBC competition later this month
20:03, 10 Sep 2026Updated 20:04, 10 Sep 2026
Shaun Wright-Phillips has been speaking to Karen Carney for advice ahead of Strictly(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston)
Shaun Wright-Phillips has played for Manchester City, Chelsea and earned 36 caps for England – but swapping the pitch for the ballroom could prove to be his biggest challenge yet.
Fellow footballer Karen Carney knows a thing or two about making the switch, having gone all the way and lifted the Glitterball last year. She’s been on hand to give her pal a few pointers. “She said to just dive straight into it and don’t hold back,” Shaun, 44, explains. “So I’ll take that advice. I’m going to go for it and do the best I can.”
For Shaun, who scored six international goals between 2004 and 2010 and played club football under the watch of titans such as Kevin Keegan and José Mourinho, Strictly is proving to be a whole different ball game.
“It’s something that’s definitely out of my comfort zone,” he says. “I don’t get overly nervous in general, but this is obviously something that’s really new to me.”
Shaun’s family and friends, including his famous footballer dad, Ian Wright, are used to him busting a move on the dancefloor, but usually after a few beers. He is now bracing himself for their reaction when he takes to the floor every weekend.
“I’m sure they’ll be giving me as much feedback as the Strictly judges,” he laughs. “They’re used to seeing me dance at parties, but this will be the first time they’ve seen me dance while sober.
“Everyone was crazy excited when they found out I was taking part. And then all of a sudden my inbox was filled with friends and family trying to get their live show ticket orders in! I’ve received a really nice amount of support so far.”
Over the course of his career, Shaun played for play for Manchester City, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers and England. He retired from the pitch in 2019, and since then, has carved out a career as a football pundit, appearing across BBC, ITV and Sky Sports.
Last year, he competed on Cooking With The Stars alongside comedian and Outnumbered star Hugh Dennis, former Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu and This Morning’s Kelly Hoppen.
Shaun became the tenth name announced to compete and the BBC Saturday night favourite will return to screens in just a matter of weeks.
When it was confirmed that he had signed up, he said:: “Dancing is in my blood—but mainly at family events! Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!”
Comedian Nick Mohammed, who appeared on Celebrity Traitors towards the end of last year, will act as host in the new stage production based on the hit game show
17:45, 10 Sep 2026Updated 17:47, 10 Sep 2026
Nick Mohammed sworn in as host of The Traitors Act of Betrayal
Nick Mohammed will take on the role of the host in the new stage show The Traitors – Acts Of Betrayal at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, London.
The comedian and Ted Lasso actor, 45, was a contestant on The Celebrity Traitors where he reached the final but lost to fellow comedian Alan Carr. The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman formally swore Mohammed in during a video filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, where the BBC show is filmed.
In the video, former Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia says: “Nick Mohammed, you stand before me. You have been chosen to take this game to the West End. Eight shows a week, no retakes, no edits, no mercy.”
She then pronounces him a Traitors host and hands him a cloak At the end of the clip, she jokingly says: “I’m out of a job.”
Written by John Finnemore and directed by Robert Hastie, The Traitors – Acts Of Betrayal is a cycle of five new plays, each playing out an entire game of The Traitors, traitors chosen, players banished and murdered, a winner crowned, in one evening.
Nick Mohammed said: “At first, I didn’t want to believe that a series of fictional plays based on The Traitors could ever contain as many brilliant twists and turns as the real thing – or be quite as compelling.
“But John Finnemore has crafted an absolute masterpiece: a cycle of five plays that are each as funny as they are moving, and of course, deeply, deeply unpredictable!
“And under the direction of the brilliant Robert Hastie, I couldn’t be more delighted to be joining such an original and wildly ambitious show.
“To take on Claudia’s role, as it were, is not just a privilege but a real challenge as an actor – I simply don’t have enough hair! But I will do my utmost not to disappoint.
“Either way, this time round, I promise not to let down the whole nation right at the very end. Now let the game begin…”
The production also does something television cannot: it answers the question of who would have won if different players had been chosen as the Traitors.
From Monday to Friday the story begins identically but takes five different paths. Characters banished or murdered early in one version emerge victorious in another.
On Saturdays the audience decides who will wear the cloak, and their choice determines which of the five plays unfolds that day. The stage production begins previews from May 11 2027, with opening night on June 8 2027.
Strictly Come Dancing’s new hosts were summoned to a shock zoom call at short notice which meant Emma Willis was sat on the loo when she was told she was told she had a new job.
Johannes Radebe, Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe in the promo for the new Strictly series.(Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)
Comedian Josh Widdecombe was in grave danger of giving away the news he was a new Strictly Come Dancing host whilst it was top secret – after finding out the news whilst walking around a cemetery.
Stand up star Josh, 43, revealed the bizarre moment as he and co-hosts Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe were quizzed in a new podcast. And he wasn’t the only one being given the life changing news in a weird place, with Emma flushed with the success of a new job whilst in the toilet at her hairdressers.
The trio said after their final audition they had to wait around two weeks before they were summoned to a zoom call at short notice by BBC execs.
Emma said: “We were all in very random places. But we also didn’t know the call was happening did we? It was a very weird situation.
“The reason it kept getting put back was because I was at the hairdressers.
“I was like this could be an either way Zoom so I’m not going to get excited. And I said ‘I can’ [go on a call] but literally I’m just I’m having my hair washed. And she said okay okay.
“And then they took ages washing my hair. And they’re like ‘do you want a massage?’ I’m like ‘no no just crack on’.
“She[show boss] said can you go somewhere private? And I said the only place I can go is outside in the street or in the loo.
“So I was sat on a toilet at the hairdressers.”
Johannes was at his home when he was on the same call waiting to head out to do a stage show, and then there was also Josh who was desperately trying to find a quiet spot.
Josh explained: “I was in Birmingham because I was on tour. So I was sat in a graveyard in Birmingham because I wanted somewhere quiet.”
Looking back on the moment he knew he had the job, he added: “I didn’t like stand up and go ‘yes’ because obviously it wasn’t public then either.
“Not that anyone would have gone ‘wait a minute, he got the Strictly gig – that guy punching the air by the grave’.”
Speaking on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, the trio also explained the role of Johannes on the show, and denied previous reports he would act as a ‘roving reporter’ with the other two as main hosts.
The trio, who start fronting the show later this month, are replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman who previously hosted the BBC hit series together for 11 years.
Emma said: “There’s no like for like, so no one’s kind of replacing anybody and at the minute it’s all very kind of open. We’re having lots of production days where we go in and we play around and we’re kind of feeling each other out – well, they’re feeling us out really.”
Josh Widdicombe: “It’s going to be like total football. We’re going to be moving everywhere.”
And Emma added: “There’s definitely no backstage roving reporter, which is what has been reported quite a bit. That’s not a thing.”
* The full interview is on The Rest Is Entertainment Podcast out today.
Ant and Dec have lost out on the NTA for TV Presenter yet again after previously breaking their 23-year streak last year when Gary Lineker scooped the award
21:28, 08 Sep 2026Updated 21:46, 08 Sep 2026
Ant and Dec have lost out on the NTA again(Image: PA)
Ant and Dec have lost out on their once-annual National Television Award yet again. The Geordie duo had an unbeaten streak of 23 consecutive wins of the Best Presenter gong, which was broken last year when Gary Lineker took the award.
This time around, all eyes were back on the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! stars to see if they could reclaim their victory, but it wasn’t to be as Sir David Attenborough was chosen by the public.
The centenarian, who has most recently fronted Secret Garden for the BBC, could not be there in person but executive producer Mark Brownlow collected it in his honour.
Reading David’s words, he said: “I’m sorry that I cannot be here to accept it. If this award is a response to the part television has played in the growing recognition of the terrible plight our planet is in, and also of the fact we now have a pressing responsibility to do what we can to protect and preserve it, I am honoured.
“If we are to repair the planet, we need a major national and international initiative, which will certainly require our support. But it’s also possible to make small differences in our own spaces and neighbourhoods.
“If enough small differences are made, they do add up to something significant, while also providing spacers we can enjoy being in. Humanity has always needed the natural world for all the practicalities of life and for our mental wellbeing.
“Now, the natural word needs us too. Surely, we must not ignore that simple fact. Thank you very much.”
Ant and Dec are yet to speak out on the loss, but last year, they took the defeat graciously. “Hello from sunny South Africa, it’s us,” Dec said in a video. “We just want to jump on here and say a huge thank you to everyone who voted for I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! at the NTAs last night.”
“Yes, thank you very much,” Ant added as the pair whooped. “Everyone here is very happy and thank you to everyone that voted for us for the Best Presenter category, even though we couldn’t get it across the line this year. We were beaten by an up and coming new guy, 64-year-old whippersnapper Gary Lineker.”
Dec went on to praise Gary’s emotional speech as he added: “Congratulations to Gary – great speech too.” Ant seconded his pal’s words, saying: “Great speech, thoroughly deserved.”
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The former It Takes Two host started her new show on Greatest Hits Radio on Monday this week.
A short clip of Zoe on her first show was shared on the radio’s official Instagram account as she welcomed her viewers for the first time.
Scott’s husband Sam Vaughan took to the comments section to show his support as he appeared to shade the BBC.
He penned: “Perfect afternoon soundtrack, we’ve got you on.”
Sam commented on a video of Zoe Ball on her first day at Greatest Hits RadioCredit: GREATEST HITS RADIOA historical police investigation regarding Scott came to light by the BBCCredit: PA
This isn’t the first time Sam has appeared to have thrown some shade as he previously took a swipe at Scott’s Radio 2 replacement, Sara Cox.
She was named as his successor and took over hosting duties back in July.
Sam doesn’t often appear on social media but the timing of his post on Sara’s first day was definitely noticable.
He shared a picture of their cute dog in the lounge, standing in front of a TV screen with Heart FM breakfast playing — NOT Radio 2‘s offering.
Sara was always seen as a natural successor to Scott and we reported how execs moved quickly to secure her for the role when he was dismissed.
A source said at the time: “This is something the BBC have always had lined up for her and she could not be more excited to take on the role.”
Scott confirmed he was quizzed by Metropolitan Police officers in 2018 after an allegation of a “historic sexual offence”.
The case – said to have taken place between 1997 and 2000 – was later dropped in full due to a lack of evidence.
But bosses claimed they only became aware of the age of the alleged victim in the weeks before Mills’ sacking, according to reports.
Making up Culture Club were Charlie Brookfield, a consultant microbiologist, Viki Owen, a clinical scientist, and their captain, Hugh Adler, a consultant microbiologist.
Meanwhile, making up Ad Astra were David Howes, a retired RAF officer, Paul McMillan, an astrophysics lecturer, and their captain, Louise McMillan, a research development officer.
During the Connecting Wall challenge, Ad Astra were left stumped by one of the connections. The trio had difficulty with finding the final word in a group of anagrams for different types of starches and carbohydrates.
They were able to successfully find – top oat – potato, tapas – pasta, and eric – rice. Yet they struggled to find the final word to complete the connection, asking in frustration: “What are we missing?”
However, viewers at home were left ‘screaming’ at their televisions over the correct final word, which was beard – bread.
Taking to Twitter, now X, one person said: “I AM SCREAMING BREAD #onlyconnect” while a different account put: “#OnlyConnect Shouting BEARD IS BREAD!! over and over at my TV.”
Another viewer wrote: “Shouting BREAD repeatedly at the TV. #onlyconnect” while a different show watcher commented: “Only #onlyconnect has me shouting “Bread” at the TV.”
Elsewhere, a different fan put: “BREAD #ONLYCONNECT”, another viewer joked: “Shouting Bread at the screen like a lunatic ffs #onlyconnect” while a different viewer added: “Bread! F**king Bread #OnlyConnect.”
Meanwhile, another show watcher joked: “I don’t think I’ve ever said bread and beard so many times in succession in my life #onlyconnect” while a different viewer added: “How many people were shouting BREAD?? #onlyconnect.”
After the correct answers appeared on screen, contestant Paul declared: “Bread, it’s bread!” as he put his head in his hands. Meanwhile, team captain Louise quipped: “Can’t believe we didn’t spot bread!”
Yet despite struggling on the Connecting Wall challenge, the team were later victorious as they won a place in the next round with 26 points. Meanwhile, Culture Club had 20 points.
Vigil continues to air every Sunday and Monday night on BBC One as DI Kirsten Longacre (played by Rose Leslie) heads up the latest murder investigation.
But in a complete 180 degrees move to series two which was mostly set in the Middle East, season three takes place in Svalbard, Norway, which is located in the Arctic Circle.
And with Svalbard having an average annual temperature between minus 11 and minus 16 degrees, it wasn’t the easiest of conditions to work in.
Nevertheless, Leslie did pick up a few helpful tips while shooting in Iceland’s freezing temperatures for Game of Thrones.
“Filming back then, I was given a brilliant hack that I also used for Svalbard as well.
“Essentially, if you get a heat pack and you place them on both your kidneys, you are then heating up your blood because your blood is going through your kidneys and then whizzing everywhere else in your system.
“So if you’re heating up the blood going through your kidneys, you’re actually going to warm yourself up.
So I was like ‘Guys, you’ve got to listen to me on this!’ And it works!
“That really helped me on every single day we were filming outside on the mountain tops.”
Vigil season three returns for its third episode tonight, Sunday, September 6, where Kirsten will finally be reunited with DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones).
It’s been teased that Amy travels to Svalbard to “clear Kirsten’s name” as she faces the “wrath of the Russians”.
The official synopsis continues: “Together, they dig into the complex motivations within the hub whilst something more sinister bubbles beneath its surface.
“The truth of Hodge’s murder may be closer to home than they thought, but the situation threatens to combust before they can get to the truth.”
Vigil is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Dianne Buswell has addressed the notion that she could have been axed from Strictly Come Dancing when she was pregnant as bosses decided to add fresh talent to the show
21:26, 05 Sep 2026Updated 21:27, 05 Sep 2026
Dianne Buswell has insisted she never worried about getting the axe from Strictly(Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)
Dianne Buswell has insisted she never worried about getting the axe from Strictly Come Dancing while she was pregnant. The TV star, 37, has served as a professional on the BBC Saturday night favourite for almost a decade and in March, she and her partner Joe Sugg became parents to son Bowden.
Around the same time, as part of a huge revamp, bosses also axed long-standing professionals Karen Hauer, Gorka Márquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas in favour of new talent.
But now Dianne has insisted that whilst there is always a slight worry that she won’t be asked back to the programme, she wasn’t particularly concerned that she would be axed amid the “bloodbath” because of how much support she had received from the BBC in the first place.
She said: “We’re so lucky to be there every single year and you’re never guaranteed that you’ll be back. Of course, you always hope, but they’re putting on a show, and sometimes they will have to change it up.
Speaking to The Sun, she added: ““You always think: ‘Am I going to be back or not?’ But because of how supportive they were to me when I was pregnant and talking about me coming back, I didn’t feel like they would do that [axe her]. They were very aware that being a working mum while still dancing was possible and they wanted to accommodate that.”
This year’s Strictly Come Dancing will have a different feel entirely, with brand news hosts Johannes Radebe, Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe having taken the reins from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Dianne claimed that the decision of new presenters was “quite genius” and opined that if bosses had simply chosen two women, it would only lead to comparisons of Tess and Claudia. When it comes to the new trio Dianne said she is particularly excited to talk all about babies with Emma Willis, who previously trained as a maternity care assistant and has also fronted Emma Willis: Delivering Babies.
The star competed on Strictly Come Dancing last year alongside Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis, who eventually had to withdraw from the show over an injury, but prior to that Dianne was subject to criticism for performing whilst pregnant.
On her Instagram Stories, she shared a comment from a viewer that read: “I get so uncomfortable watching Dianne run down the stairs in heels, cartwheel and do tricks while pregnant.
“Your centre of gravity is off while you’re pregnant, just takes one slip to fall on the precious bump. She is a true professional and fabulous dancer but I think it might have been wise to sit this season out. She is 36 so classed as advanced maternal age mother regardless of how fit she is, I think BBC made a mistake here,
They continued by noting that Amy Dowden also took part in the BBC competition last year whilst facing health issues, adding: “It just doesn’t make sense. Like it didn’t make sense to give Amy a celebrity partner last year and look what happened there.” Fed up, Dianne shared her own thoughts as she reposted the comment, writing: “I have honestly had enough of comments like these.”
George Rainsford is returning to Casualty tonight as fan favourite Dr Ethan Hardy for the BBC medical drama’s 40th anniversary three years after his last apperance
George Rainsford played Dr Ethan Hardy in Casualty from 2014 until 2023(Image: BBC/Alistair Heap)
A former Casualty actor has admitted he was “ready to have a break” after nine years working on the medical drama.
George Rainsford is putting his scrubs back on and resuming his role as Dr Ethan Hardy for the BBC show’s huge 40th anniversary, which airs tonight (Saturday, September 5).
The actor played the popular doctor for almost a decade before leaving the BBC medical drama in 2023. Fans will know George’s charatcer Ethan was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease and left the E.D. three years ago to spend more time with his son, Bodhi.
Speaking exclusively to Betway about his exit, George explained: “At the time, I definitely wanted that time away. I was ready to have a break. It’s a fantastic place to work.
“I loved how generous they were with all the storylines I had over the years, and I loved everybody there but it’s filmed in Cardiff, and I’m not based there, so I needed to spend a bit more time at home. When you’re an actor, sometimes you want to challenge yourself and see what else is out there.
“After nine years, that feeling had gotten a bit stronger. I was keen to go back and do theatre for a bit and see what other screen work was out there.
“I’m glad we were able to have the conversation with the producers that it wasn’t final because I really enjoyed going back and I do think there would be a storyline there but at the same time, I was ready for a little break”
Since leaving Casualty, Jimmy has appeared in seven episodes of popular BBC period drama Call the Midwife as Jimmy Wilson and more recently played the role of Miles is movie Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger.
Ethan isn’t the only familar face returning to Casualty this week with Derek Thompson also reprising his iconic role as nurse Charlie Fairhead. Fans last saw him during his final appearance in March 2024, where he retired after 38 years in the NHS.
Although bosses haven’t shared too many details of Ethan and Charlie’s involvement in the 40th anniversary, they have said: “The gripping, anniversary event centres on a high-stakes major incident that throws Holby into chaos.
“Lives hang in the balance and the ED team are pushed to their limits in a tense and emotionally charged story that brings together some of the show’s most beloved characters.
“As the fallout continues, a major rescue operation unfolds, forcing impossible life-or-death decisions and testing the courage, resilience and leadership of those at the heart of the hospital.
“As Dylan Keogh (William Beck) battles personal tragedy while leading his team through their darkest hour, Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) and Flynn Byron (Olly Rix) find themselves fighting for survival in a race against time.”
Casualty’s 40th anniversary specials will air on Saturday, September 5 from 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer
